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Hunter region beaches

For individual beach information download Hunter Region Beaches (09634bwar09ch3hunter.pdf, 1205kb)

Summary

The good news from previous summer seasons continued for the Hunter region beaches during summer 2008-2009. Once again they were among the cleanest groups of beaches monitored as part of the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra Beachwatch program.

All 17 Hunter beaches complied 100% with Beachwatch water quality criteria for both faecal coliforms and enterococci for the entire 2008–2009 summer season (Figure 12).

Hunter's cleanest beaches

All of Hunter's beaches (Zenith, Box, Fingal, One Mile, South Stockton, Nobbys, Newcastle, Bar, Merewether, Burwood North, Burwood South, Glenrock Lagoon, Dudley, Redhead, Blacksmiths, Swansea Heads Little Beach and Caves Beach) were rated the cleanest.

Port Stephens Council beaches

All four Port Stephens ocean beaches recorded 100% compliance with recreational water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). These results were identical to the previous summer season.

Newcastle City Council beaches

All of the seven Newcastle ocean beaches recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). Burwood North and Burwood South beaches improved by three percentage points for the faecal coliform criteria from the previous summer season.

Lake Macquarie City Council beaches

All of the six Lake Macquarie City Council beaches recorded 100% compliance with Beachwatch water quality criteria for faecal coliforms and enterococci (Figure 12). These results were identical to the previous summer season.

Plans for improvement

Hunter Water Corporation (HWC) operates 18 sewage treatment plants in the Hunter Region, with ocean outfall plants located at Boulder Bay, Belmont and Burwood Beach.

For each of its reticulation systems, Hunter Water Corporation has prepared detailed studies called Upgrade Management Plans relating to its Wastewater Treatment Works. The upgrades of and actions from these plans are focused on reducing impacts on customers and the environment during wet weather and will cater for new growth in each catchment.

Upgrade works being undertaken or planned as part of these Upgrade Management Plans include those in the coastal areas of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens. Significant work is programmed for the Newcastle System wastewater catchment draining to Burwood Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, including works to reduce wet weather impacts in Mayfield, Adamstown and New Lambton over the next five years.

An upgrade of Belmont Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) ha s been completed to cater for population growth on the eastern side of Lake Macquarie.

Work will commence in late 2009 on upgrades of both Burwood Beach and Boulder Bay Wastewater Treatment Plants to improve the reliability of the plants to meet current license requirements and increase capacity for growth. Further investigations are under way to determine the longer term sustainable strategy for both plants.

The actions undertaken to improve beach water quality by Port Stephens Council, Newcastle City Council and Lake Macquarie City Council are outlined in the Hunter council summary pages of this report.